Organic mental disorders: chronic traumatic encephalopathy: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Organic mental disorders: chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Sample item

A 55-year-old retired professional boxer develops progressive memory loss, slurred speech, parkinsonism, irritability and paranoia. Which pathology is characteristic of this condition?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Perivascular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (dementia pugilistica) follows repeated head blows and shows perivascular hyperphosphorylated tau deposition at the depths of cortical sulci, with a combination of cognitive decline, parkinsonism and neuropsychiatric change. It can be confirmed only at autopsy.

Option by option

  • A. Prion protein amyloid plaques

    Prion protein plaques occur in prion disease with rapid decline.

  • B. Extensive demyelinating plaques

    Demyelinating plaques characterise multiple sclerosis.

  • C. Extracellular alpha-synuclein deposits only

    Alpha-synuclein deposition characterises Lewy body disease.

  • D. Perivascular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (correct)

    Correct. Tau deposition in a perivascular, sulcal-depth pattern is the hallmark.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Perivascular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (dementia pugilistica) follows repeated head blows and shows perivascular hyperphosphorylated tau deposition at the depths of cortical sulci, with a combination of cognitive decline, parkinsonism and neuropsychiatric change.

Why is "Prion protein amyloid plaques" not the answer?

Prion protein plaques occur in prion disease with rapid decline.

Why is "Extensive demyelinating plaques" not the answer?

Demyelinating plaques characterise multiple sclerosis.

Why is "Extracellular alpha-synuclein deposits only" not the answer?

Alpha-synuclein deposition characterises Lewy body disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Organic mental disorders: chronic traumatic encephalopathy in Psychiatry. It can be confirmed only at autopsy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Organic mental disorders: chronic traumatic encephalopathy?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.